CHRISTIE’S PRESENTS: FIRST OPEN

Art junkies rejoice! Christie’s, the famous London auction house possibly more familiar to your folks, is throwing an event everyone can enjoy this week. And Wonderland are on board.

Initially debuted in New York a decade ago, First Open owes its moniker to the fact its auction ‘opens’ a new season of sales; here in London, the latest edition is comprised of 164 lots, with contemporary art from the likes of Gilbert & George – presenting Holy Piss, a piece made of, you guessed it, piss (or you know, droplets magnified under a microscope in the shape of a photograph) – as well as Bathers by Julian Opie, below.

Bathers, 2001, Julian Opie

Can’t afford a £30k canvas to ornate the walls of your tiny flat share? No worries. To celebrate the sale, taking place on Friday, Christie’s and Wonderland are throwing an evening for art lovers and collectors alike. Lining up DJs, food by Food85 founder Lily Hirasawa and pop-up boutiques presented by Kitri and Richard Braqo, visitors can grab a drink while enjoying one of the 10-minute talks from Christie’s in-house experts.

Specialists include Victoria Gramm (Post-War and Contemporary Art) on ‘Smoke and Mirrors: abstraction and illusion in contemporary photography’, and Murray Macaulay (Head of Department, Prints), discussing `The Song of the Sun: Joan Miró & the artist’s book’. Hatchards, London’s oldest book-seller, will be holding a pop-up bookshop and café for wanderers to browse and lounge in. Elsewhere, a few pieces from Christie’s latest auctions – including First Open, Prints & Multiples and on paper – will be on view.